Dec. 16, 2017
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NASHVILLE – Christa Reed scored a team-high 13 points and was joined in double figures by Erin Whalen and Rachel Bell each with 11 points but the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team couldn’t find a way to defeat Memphis, falling 71-60 at Memorial Gym on Saturday night.
The Skinny
Date: Dec. 16, 2017
Time: 6:00 PM CT
Place: Nashville, Tenn. (Memorial Gym)
Records: Vanderbilt (3-8), Memphis (3-8)
At The Top of the Charts
Points: Christa Reed – 13 points
Rebounds: Christa Reed – 6 rebounds
Assists: Kayla Overbeck – 4 assists
Steals: Cierra Walker – 3 steals
How It Happened
First Quarter: Vanderbilt 15, Memphis 9
After a slow start to the game for both teams, Vanderbilt pulled ahead 15-9 after the media timeout on the strength of a two triples from Christa Reed. The first quarter was characterized by scoring droughts for both teams as both teams closed the quarter without a bucket for the final 3:41, but the Commodores were able to maintain their lead and took the advantage into the quarter break.
Second Quarter: Vanderbilt 29, Memphis 28
Memphis opened the quarter with four unanswered to cut the Vanderbilt lead to two points but Erin Whalen ended the drought with a bucket off the bench to stop the momentum. The Tigers used another short 4-0 burst to tie the game at 17 with 6:51 left forcing the Commodores to call a timeout. The Commodore reserves were key in the second quarter as they accounted for half of the scoring in the quarter led by five points from Whalen. With the Dores leading 24-22 courtesy of a triple from Rachel Bell, Christa Reed hit a bucket on the inside to extend the Commodore lead but Memphis used an 8-3 run to close the half giving the Commodores a one-point, 29-28, lead.
Third Quarter: Memphis 52, Vanderbilt 45
The visiting team scored the first bucket of the second half but Kaleigh Clemons-Green drilled a trey to keep the lead with the Commodores although Memphis used a 15-7 run through the first six minutes of play to take what was then its largest lead – 43-36 – at the media timeout. Out of the media timeout the Commodores got some good production out of Erin Whalen and Cierra Walker, who combined for five of the seven Vanderbilt points out of the timeout. Unfortunately, a triple from Memphis’ Cheyenne Creighton with just two tenths of a second left on the game clock gave the visitors a 52-45 advantage and all the momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Memphis 70, Vanderbilt 61
Memphis extended its lead to double digits out of the quarter break 56-45 before a bucket from Rachel Bell stopped the run but the visiting Tigers stifled every opportunity the Commodores had to make a run, particularly dominating on the offensive glass with 20 offensive rebounds on the night leading to 25 second chance points. With Memphis leading 57-47 with 3:52 remaining Erin Whalen nailed a pair at the free throw line to cut the lead to single digits. Christa Reed hit a trey at the 2:49 mark, her first points since the first quarter, to whittle the lead back to eight points but that was as close as Vanderbilt would get as Memphis held on for its second consecutive victory.
Inside the Lane
-The Commodores move to 11-5 in the all-time series and have dropped the last two meetings between the teams in the series.
-Vanderbilt debuted its third lineup of the season in tonight’s contest. Kayla Overbeck earned a spot in the starting lineup in place of Autumn Newby who was out with a death in the family. It was Overbeck’s first start of the season.
-Paige Warren made her first career appearance in tonight’s contest.
-Christa Reed reached double figures for the fifth time in the last six games with 13 points.
-Rachel Bell moves 19 points away from 1,000 career points.
Stat of The Game
Vanderbilt’s bench outscored the Memphis reserves, 20-3 on the evening.
Up Next
The Commodores will stay at home and take on NC State from the ACC on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 5 pm from Memorial Gym.
Next Five Games
Dec. 19 – vs. NC State, 5 pm
Dec. 21 – Belmont, 12 pm
Dec. 28 – Lipscomb, 7 pm
Dec. 31 – at LSU, 3 pm*
Jan. 4 – vs. Georgia. 7 pm
*-SEC Opener
All game times CENTRAL
Keep Up with the Commodores
For more information on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team check them out on the website at www.vucommodores.com , Twitter at @VandyWBB., Instagram at @VandyWBB and on Facebook at Vandy Hoops.
